Qualitative methods for health research / Judith Green and Nicki Thorogood.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

PART 3. DOING QUALITATIVE WORK FOR HEALTH:- 9. COLLABORATING ACROSS DISCIPLINES AND INSTITUTIONS:- Chapter summary--Introduction-- Different methods for different questions--Multiple methods: to increase understanding or increase validity?--Trans-disciplinary work--Communicating across disciplines--International collaborations--Conclusion--Key points--Exercise-- Further reading--10. WRITING UP QUALITATIVE WORK:- Chapter summary--Introduction--The writing process--Writing for different audiences--Writing for health journals--Writing for social science colleagues--Writing for and disseminating to non-specialist audiences--Alternatives to written reports--Some practical issues to consider when writing up--Conclusion--Key points--Exercise--Further reading--11. READING AND APPRAISING QUALITATIVE WORK:- Chapter summary--Introduction--Reading critically--Appraising empirical work: are criteria possible?--Appraisal criteria--Criteria in ethnography--Conclusion--Key points--Exercise--Further reading.

PART 1. PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES IN QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH: 1. QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY AND HEALTH RESEARCH:- Chapter summary--Introduction: health research--What is qualitative research? --Theoretical approaches--The orientations of qualitative research--The contribution of qualitative research to understanding health and health services--Conclusion--Key points--Exercise--Further reading--2. DEVELOPING QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS:- Chapter summary--Introduction--Research questions-- Research designs: some examples--Problem with design typologies--Influences on research design--An idealized logic? --Data collection/generation and analysis methods--Practical issues--Multi-method designs: the place of qualitative work in larger health research studies--Conclusion: developing skills in research design--Key points--Exercises--Further reading--3. RESPONSIBILITIES, ETHICS AND VALUES:- Chapter summary--Introduction--Values in research--Ethical review and codes of practice--Principle of informed consent--Confidentiality--Responsibilities to research participants--Different models of relationship--Responsibilities to yourself and co-workers--Ethical dilemmas and conflicts--Conclusion--Key points--Exercises--Further reading--PART 2. GENERATING AND ANALYSING DATA: 4. IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS:- Chapter summary--Introduction: terminology--Developing everyday skills: what the research interview does--A word on language--Language in cross-cultural settings--Assumptions about our own language--In-depth interviews: what they can and can\'t do--Private/public accounts--Cultural factors and interviewing--Social differences in interviews--\'Elite\' interviewing--Techniques: developing interview skills--Improving reliability--Transcribing interviews--Sampling: how many and who to interview? --Conclusion--Key points--Exercises--Further reading--5. GROUP INTERVIEWS:- Chapter summary--Introduction--Different kinds of group interview: an overview--Consensus panels--Community interviews and participatory methods--Focus groups--Natural groups--Advantages of using group interviews--Naturalism--Limitations--Practical issues--Developing appropriate methods for the setting--Conclusion--Key points--Exercise--Further reading--6. OBSERVATIONAL METHODS:- Chapter summary--Aims of observational methods--Participant and non-participant observation--Ethnography and participant observation--Doing ethnography close to home--Overt and covert roles--\'Mystery shopping\' and pseudo-patient studies--Planning a participant observation study--Rapid ethnographic methods--Non-participant observational methods--Conclusion--Key points--Exercises--Further reading--7. USING DOCUMENTARY SOURCES:- Chapter summary--Introduction--Why use existing sources?--Public records---Personal documents--Mass media outputs--Research outputs--Methodological issue in using documentary sources--Conclusion--Key points--Exercises--Further reading--8. ANALYSING QUALITATIVE DATA:- Chapter summary--Approaches to analysis--Styles of analysis--Relating analysis to the aims of the study--Principles of different approaches--Thematic content analysis--Grounded theory--Framework analysis--Using computer software to help manage data--Rigour in analysis--Rigour is not enough . . . --Generalizability and transferability--Conclusion--Key points--Exercises--Further reading--

This is a practical introduction to designing, conducting and appraising qualitative research in areas such as public health, health services research, nursing and health promotion.